Fr. William Corby Division

Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) (44FA03)

Fairfax Station, Virginia

Report of Activities

2002-2003

 

(Prepared for Virginia State Convention 6/20-6/22/03; Richmond, VA)

 

The following is a summary of activities for the past two years under the presidencies of Brothers Tom Dix (2002) and Ray Connolly (2003):

 

INTRODUCTION-BACKGROUND

 

As a matter of background, the Father William Corby Division, arguably one of the most active Hibernian Divisions in the State of Virginia, has long had charitable and historic activities among its major focuses. The Division holds its monthly meetings at 1:00PM on the 1^st Sunday of each month (except July& August), in St. Mary’s Historic Church Hall, at Fairfax Station.

 

 St. Mary’s Church was first opened to the public in 1858, and for years, since the Civil War, has been known as St. Mary’s of Sorrows. The Church was built largely, by Orange and Alexandria Railroad workmen, who had settled in the area. The Irish Catholic railroad laborers had become tired of celebrating Mass from the boxcars standing at Fairfax Station. The graves of a number of these church builders and their family members can be found in the churchyard today.

 

Also, the American Red Cross can trace its roots to St. Mary’s, as Clara Barton, the organization’s founder, on church grounds, tirelessly nursed Union Soldiers wounded at the Second Battle of Manassas and the action at Chantilly in early September1862. St. Mary’s Church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

 

It is with the above backdrop and deep a sense of spirit, pride, history, gratitude and tradition that we of the Father Corby Division truly recognize, appreciate, love and live our Catholic faith, Irish heritage, and American loyalty and patriotism!

 

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

 

For our annual Parish Easter Sunrise Service (outdoor mass), at the St. Mary’s Historic Church Cemetery, the Division continued to play a major role in organizing and supporting this celebration. In this regard, several Brothers have been involved in setting up the AOH “alter tent,” while serving as ushers, lector, & ministers of communion.

 

On Memorial Day, the Division has become a tradition, organizing and sponsoring a moving Patriotic Mass and a Blessing of Graves at St. Mary’s Historic Church and Cemetery.  The ceremonies, included a procession into the Church, lead by the Fr. Corby Division Color Guard.  These holiday masses were followed by processions through the adjacent gravesites, where Division members had earlier placed American Flags on each grave and an Irish flag on the graves of those of Irish background.  Floral presentations, with Color Guard honors, were made at the graves of deceased Division members, our former Chaplain (Pastor) and at the tomb of a Confederate Unknown.  Bagpipes punctuated the outdoor events, which were followed by a reception. Greg O’Brien, whose deceased wife Una, (originally from County Mayo) is buried in the cemetery, was our piper, while Brother Tom Dix led the singing during the masses.

 

A number of our members have continued to aid the parish in other ways, as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Choir Leaders/members, as well as through Finance, Cemetery, RCIA, Youth, Social Action and a variety of other important spiritual and service committees/activities.

 

CHARITABLE & YOUTH ACTIVITIES   

 

             December 2002, the Fr. Corby Division established the John F. Devaney Sr. Scholarship Fund.  This scholarship was established on the anniversary of Bro. Devaney’s death.  The scholarship is named after the patriarch of our division and is aiding qualified family members of our Division, or of St. Mary’s Parish in their post high school educational pursuits.  A committee, chaired by Brother Fred Walker (who has many years experience in the scholarship selection process) was established to award the scholarships on a sound legal basis. This Memorial Day, with numerous well-qualified candidates considered, the scholarship was deservedly awarded to James Francis Manning, of Fairfax Station.

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            The Division, in April 2003, made a financial donation in support of the Child Advocate Support Association (CASA) in Fairfax County. This organization is the Amices Curia of the County Juvenile Court system. One of the Ladies, Jennifer Devaney is a Volunteer Monitor for this program. The Association is a non- profit, donation- supported organization that assists battered children and “kids” from abusive homes.

 

            The Father Corby Division continues submitting its scheduled pledge payments in support of St. Mary’s Building Campaign. Also, selected Division members have been involved, within the parish, as Team Captains and in other roles supporting the Bishop’s “Rooted in Faith-Forward in Hope” building and endowment campaign.

 

            During the month of March, Division members led by Brother Bob Hickey, assembled at The Virginian Assisted Living and Retirement Center, Fairfax, Virginia and after formally “presenting colors,” entertained the residents with a lighthearted program and rousing renditions of traditional Irish music and song. All were Irish on this glorious day!

 

            Several of our members have been actively involved in the Christmas in April Project, while Brother Jack Devaney Jr. has worked diligently, as a professional engineer, in developing, with short notice, three (3) sets of drawings related to required work permits for the St. Mary’s Work Camp. The valuable assistance of our brother, is going a long way in providing work real experience for forty (40) of St. Mary’s Youth, their chaperones and Fr. Whitestone. Jack says that he has been “promised” a work camp T-shirt for his efforts. He’ll wear it proudly, indeed! “Way to go, Jack!”

This annual summer youth service camp and project has been widely acclaimed for “all the good” our youth does in helping the less fortunate, including the poor and disadvantaged.

 

            Also, we have continued our support of the St. Andrew’s Society Potato project, while during the Lenten seasons; we continued our support of the weekly Lenten Bread and Soup Dinners held at St. Mary’s. Of course, several of our Brothers, who have long attended daily mass, had a special focus on this commitment during Lent.

 

            The Division has continued to support the St. Mary’s Squires and Roses by employing the services of these “top-flight young people” in connection with The St. Patrick’s Dinner-Dance service of food and post-event clean up. Couldn’t be done without these “guys & gals!”

 

In October, 2002 as well as 2001, the Fr. Corby and Alice Hamill Divisions supported and played a significant role in the St. Mary’s Parish Clothing Drive, The drive just past, saw a total of 1305 boxes of clothing collected for the needy.

 

The annual joint Fr. Corby/Alice Hamill Divisions’ Christmas Party was held the past two years, all enjoyed Great food, music, and games!  Books, as usual, were collected as the price of admission to the party.  Over a hundred books were collected at our most recent yuletide gathering, with all given to the Book Buddies program of the Lamb Center, Fairfax, VA.  These books are read and then given to the children living in shelters.  This charitable activity enables the children to have “something of their own. Also, the “left over” dinners from our St. Patrick’s Dinner Dances were also donated to the Center.

 

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

 

            The Father Corby Division during 2002-2003 continued to offer Ceili Dance lessons for Division members, spouses; St. Mary’s of Sorrows parishioners and interested others, with a special focus on the annual Parish (AOH & LAOH) St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dances. Brothers Bob Hickey, Paul Kourtz and other Division members, as well as spouses, continued to spearhead this “fun” activity.  On average, about 13-25 students took advantage of our program.

 

 Our instructors also performed at the June 2002 Potomac Celtic festival, held in Loudoun County. The festival organizers provided a cash donation to the Division for the services of these talented folks.

 

            The Division, for the past two years, has actively participated in the annual St. Mary’s Parish Awareness Weekend, staffing an information booth relative to the Hibernians and the Division(s). Of course, our involvement was used as membership recruiting opportunities.

             

 

Members of both this and the Alice Hamill (LAOH) Division marched in the Alexandria and Washington, DC   St. Patrick’s Day Parades in March 2002/03, led by the Fr. Corby Division Color Guard.  The Color Guard also marched in the Manassas, Virginia St. Patrick’s Day Parades, both years. Earlier, members of both Divisions supported/ attended the annual   traditional Gaelic Masses that have been held at St. James Parish, Falls Church.

 

At St. Mary’s annual Labor Day Mass and Parish Picnic, the Corby and Hamill Divisions “ manned” a display table/ booth, which in part, gave the picnic attendees an opportunity to peruse various publications, material and articles concerning the history of the Parish, church and surroundings. A particular emphasis was placed on the Irish and historical background of the Church, and its founding. Of course, AOH/LAOH recruitment opportunities were never overlooked.

 

HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES

 

On Memorial Day(s) afternoon(s), the Division organized and directed a Memorial Day commemorative ceremony of the September 1,1862, Battle of Chantilly, at the Ox Hill Battle Memorial Park.  Our Color Guard and Division Historian, as well as one of our parish priests played major roles in these now-annual activities.  The Division also provided a suitable wreath and music for the occasion.

 

On September 28, 2002, St. Mary’s parish dedicated a Civil War trail marker commemorating the August 8, 1864 skirmish that took place on the grounds of the Historic Church.  On that 1864 date, sixty-two (62) Union troops from the 16^th New York Cavalry and the 13^th New York Volunteers fought a pitched battle, with thirty-nine                            (39) of Col. John Mosby’s  Confederate Raiders.  Brother Bob Hickey and his research were critical to the establishment of this historical marker at our Church.  Brother Elmer May, our Division Historian, acted as Master of Ceremonies (MC).  This activity also included our Division Color Guard, with its ranks including, for the first time, some of the ladies from the Alice Hamill (Ladies’) Division. The Corby Division conducted fund raising activities in support of the acquisition of the marker itself. Through Brother Hickey and his perseverance, St. Mary’s Historical Church and Cemetery are now included as “ one of the stops” along the Virginia Civil War Historical Trail!

 

            Also in October 2002, a Division field trip and outing was lead by Brother. Elmer May to the Gettysburg National Battlefield, with the day’s activities being extremely enlightening, educational and enjoyable.

 

In December 2002, as in past years, the Fr. Corby Division Color Guard participated in the commemoration of the Anniversary of the 1863 Civil War, Battle of Fredericksburg, supporting the General Meagher Division and the U.S. Park Service.

 

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

 

The Annual St. Mary’s Parish St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dances, which are sponsored by our AOH/LAOH Divisions, were tremendous successes.  These popular dinner/dances included outstanding traditional Irish cuisine, dancing and singing in a Pub atmosphere.  Ceili demonstrations and dancing; the drawing of numerous prizes, including two round trip airfares to the Emerald Isle were also special annual highlights.

 

            In each of the last two Aprils, the AOH & LAOH Divisions have jointly sponsored our Annual Military Bridge party, held at St. Mary’s, Farrell Hall. We have seen increasing attendance and greater support for this parish activity since its inception. The” card party- goers” love it!

 

As noted above, the Fr. Corby/Alice Hamill Divisions’ joint Christmas Parties were held the last two years and were indeed enjoyed by all.  A number of other fun-filled social events/parties have also taken place. Of special note have been our after-action  “celebratory meetings” recognizing those unselfish volunteer workers, who have been so heavily relied upon and involved in the various “good works” of the Fairfax Hibernians.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

As of June 2003, the Fr. Corby Division has a total of forty-five (45) members, with two new members/applications being processed.

 

Division fund-raisers were held on June 2, 2002 a June 8, 2003 at Pat Troy’s Restaurant/Pub in Alexandria, VA. Seamus Kennedy, a longtime friend of our divisions (AOH/LAOH) provided the entertainment and was the principal drawing card.

 

            In September 2003 the Tara Degree Team of Long Island, NY, certified the Brian Boru Major Degree Team of Virginia, as the newest AOH Tower Degree Team. Members of this major degree team from our division are: Brothers Jack Devaney, Elmer May, and Mike Stephens along with Tom Sullivan and Tom Dix. The degree team held a Tower Degree ceremony on April 27, 2003 at Bowie, MD and at this year’s Virginia State Convention the team will offer another opportunity for our Brothers to acquire their various/major degrees.

 

            The Division has provided considerable support to the replica of the Irish Famine Ship, “ The Jeanie Johnston” and its long awaited completion and voyage to America. Several of our members, who have supported this project in a number of ways, including financially, were finally able to personally greet the ship this past May, upon its arrival and brief stay at the Water St. Pier, in Washington D.C. Brother Bob Hickey was able to arrange the musical entertainment for one of the May, 2003 ship’s receptions. The ship itself, its history, authenticity, as well as the nature, and overall crew and trainee composition and diversity is speaking volumes as to our individual and collective heritage and to the legacy of the Irish in America!

 

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                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Raymond E. Connolly, Jr.

                                                                                    President-2003